The BEAT News November 6, 2013

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Vermont Yankee Case Continues

from Connecticut River Watershed Council

Vermont Yankee announced in August plans to close the plant in December, 2014. But that’s not the end of the story.

Last week, CRWC filed the final brief in our case against VY’s discharge of thermal pollution to the CT River. Now, we wait for the Public Service Board (PSB) to issue a ruling on the merits of our case. The ruling could set an important precedent for how future dischargers must demonstrate that a thermal discharge will or will not impact our rivers. To read the full brief, transcripts of our testimony to the PSB, our expert reports and more, visit the CRWC website.

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Green River Coal Tar Clean Up

from the Connecticut River Watershed Council

For the past couple of months, Berkshire Gas has been conducting coal tar remediation work in the riverbed of the Green River between the Mill Street Dam and the Wiley & Russell Dam.

This picture shows a coffer dam restricting flow to one side of the river so that the contractors can conduct remediation in the other side. This work is of interest to CRWC in particular because the removal of the Wiley & Russell Dam is contingent upon the contaminated sediment being removed.

Learn more about the removal of the Wiley & Russel Dam, and other dam removal projects, at the CRWC website.

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Avoid Decorating with Invasive Plants

During the holiday season, many people use plant material gathered from their yard to decorate their houses or businesses. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) and the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) encourage people to avoid using exotic, invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) in holiday decorations. Though these plants are attractive, it is best not to use them. Birds eat fruits from wreaths and garlands and the digested, but still-viable seeds, sprout where deposited. Exotic, invasive plants create severe environmental damage, invading open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and backyards, and crowding out native plants. Bittersweet can grow over and even kill mature trees. These invasive plants are extremely difficult to control: when cut off, the remaining plant segment in the ground will re-sprout. It is illegal to import or sell Oriental bittersweet and Multiflora rose in any form (e.g. plants, cuttings, or wreaths) in Massachusetts.

Home and business property gardeners, garden club members, nursery staff, landscapers and conservationists can learn more about invasive plants from DFW’s “A Guide to Invasive Plants.” The guide includes invasive plant descriptions, photographs, the plant’s regulatory status, key identification characteristics, habitats where the plant is likely to be found, type of threat the plant poses to native species and their habitats, its current distribution, and place of origin. Similar plant species are also briefly described to aid in plant identification.

To purchase a guide, stop in the Field Headquarters office in West Boylston (note new address) during business hours or send a request to “Invasive Plant Guide,” DFW Field HQ, NHESP, 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230, West Boylston, MA, 01583, and include a check for $5 (per copy) payable to: Comm. of Mass.–NHESP. Sorry, but DFW does not accept credit cards. Learn more about invasive plants from DFW’s Natural Heritage webpage at:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/land-protection-and-management/invasive-species/invasive-plants.html.

Find this and other NHESP publications at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/publications-forms/publications/.

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One Potato, Two Potato

by the Franklin Land Trust

Earlier this fall, the Franklin Land Trust assisted with the conservation of 182.5 acres of farm land on the Sunderland/Hadley town lines, on Route 47 and Plumtree Road.  Formerly owned by S&J Land Trust, the farm which had been rented for many years to ConnLeaf, Inc. for shade tobacco production is comprised of almost all “prime” agricultural soils.  In addition, it represents one of the largest properties in Sunderland/Hadley in single ownership.  These two attributes, therefore, made it an extremely significant agricultural resource.  Finally, it is located in a large farm block, across Route 47 from the Kuzmeski and Tudryn APRs and serves as a critical component of the rural, scenic character of Route 47.

Franklin Land Trust assisted in the sale of an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on this farm by S&J Land Trust to the MA Department of Agricultural Resources’ APR Program, in part by providing the required funding in local match until reimbursement funds are available through the MA Highway Department (MHD) Scenic By-way Program.

Since being conserved, the farm has been sold to Szawlowski Potato Farms, Inc.  Szawlowski Potato Farm was started by polish immigrant, John R. Szawlowski, in 1910.  The farm has weathered changing economies and new lifestyles but is now the largest potato grower in Massachusetts. Headed by four of John’s grandsons, the farm now grows potatoes on 2,500 acres of land in Hatfield, Northampton and Whately.

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Environmental Community Calls for Study of Underground Alternatives in Federal Review of Northern Pass

from Conservation Law Foundation

Seven leading New Hampshire environmental organizations sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) calling for a truly comprehensive and fair environmental review of the Northern Pass transmission project, including a complete analysis of underground transmission alternatives in New Hampshire and other states. You can read the whole letter here; the signatories’ logos are below.

Northern Pass Transmission LLC is proposing to construct one of the largest electric transmission projects in New Hampshire’s history—a 187-mile line to deliver into New England 1,200 megawatts of electricity generated by Hydro-Québec’s massive hydro-power facilities in Canada. The proposed project will profoundly affect the landscape, environment, and natural resources of communities throughout New Hampshire and in Quebec, as well as the energy future of New Hampshire and New England.

Yesterday’s announcement of the New England Clean Power Link project in Vermont confirms that underground alternatives are reasonable, economic, and likely to have significant advantages over a project like Northern Pass. It has never been clearer that DOE must carefully analyze these alternatives and weigh them in deciding whether the current Northern Pass proposal is consistent with the public interest. Contrary to the misleading arguments in Northern Pass’s flawed amended permit application, advanced underground transmission technology and potential underground routes warrant detailed study in DOE’s environmental impact statement.

[BEAT Note: habitat fragmentation is still one of the biggest threats to biodiversity – the proposed Northern Pass Transmission lines would be devastating.]

Our other points:

  • DOE should broaden its view of the purpose and need for the project beyond the confines of Northern Pass’s permit application to allow for consideration of the many promising approaches that would also help meet New England’s energy needs.
  • The EIS must include a sound greenhouse gas emissions analysis of the project (something Northern Pass has utterly failed to provide), taking into account both reductions in pollution from the power sources that are displaced by the project and also the emissions of hydropower facilities in Canada.
  • The EIS must include a complete, independent analysis of Northern Pass’s visual impacts, especially on New Hampshire’s many scenic resources. Recent work by the Appalachian Mountain Club confirms that the project would have important and wide-ranging impacts in many viewsheds along its entire route.
  • The EIS must include a full assessment of the project’s impacts on the many conservation lands through and near which the project would run. Our organizations are especially concerned about the impacts within the White Mountain National Forest, where the developer is seeking special authorizations to construct the project.
  • DOE needs to stop making procedural mistakes (such as its tainted process for selecting the contractor team that will be writing the EIS) and conduct the environmental review of the project with meaningful openness, fairness, and impartiality. Our letter sets out some concrete steps that DOE can take now, such as preparing and releasing for public comment a report on which alternatives the EIS will study in detail, well before the draft EIS is completed.

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Conservation District Seeks New Administrator

November 5, 2013 –Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Conservation District is seeking a new administrator to oversee all district activities including planning and coordinating meetings, workshops, events, and carry out day-to-day office tasks. The administrator must be an independent worker with excellent writing and communication skills and the ability to make connections in the community to further the district’s conservation mission. A passion for the environment is a must. Programs can be tailored to the skills set that the incumbent brings to the table. Experience in grant seeking, organizational development, office administration, event planning and project coordination is strongly preferred. A background in an environmental field is preferred but not required.

This position will involve a 4-6 week training period during the district’s spring plant sale fundraiser before the incumbent is fully hired as the administrator. This is a part-time position without benefits. The administrator is expected to work 12-15 hours per week with a flexible schedule located in the Pittsfield USDA NRCS office at 78 Center Street. Hours may fluctuate depending upon workload. Incumbent must be able to pass a background check to obtain access to the USDA computer network.

To inquire about this position, please send a resume, cover letter, and 3 references by email to aimee.annichiarico@ma.usda.gov. No phone calls or drop-ins please. Position is to begin in early 2014.

Full description PDF attached.

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Urban Birds Mini-Grant Program

The Celebrate Urban Birds Mini-Grant Program, an initiative of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, supports community organizations, educators, and youth throughout the United States that host neighborhood events that introduce the public and youth to birds found in urban areas. Funded events should feature activities involving birds, community service, art, greening, and/or science. Examples of eligible events include bird-activity days at local museums, libraries, or community centers, as well as art and gardening activities at clubs, schools, or senior centers. Mini-grants ranging from $100 to $500 are provided. Organizations working with underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The application deadline is December 31, 2013. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithologys website to review the application materials.

Celebrate Urban Birds Mini-Grant Program

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Holiday Balsam Fir Wreaths for Sale to Benefit Friends of the Dyken Pond Center

Grafton –The Friends of the Dyken Pond Center are selling Balsam fir wreaths. Each 18 inch wreath will be packed full of aromatic balsam fir, pine cones, a large red bow and a collectible original Dyken Pond nature ornament that can be kept for years to come. This is a pre-order sale and all wreaths must be ordered by November 18. Cost is $20. Larger wreath sizes are also available. There are various pick-up options beginning on November 23. Order forms can be downloaded from our website at www.dykenpond.org or orders may be placed by contacting the Center at 658-2055 or  Nbconrad958@gmail.com.

Dyken Pond Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, fishing and non-motor boating. The Friends of Dyken Pond was created in 1991 to enhance the education, research and appreciation of our natural resources.

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